Small red meatballs on the tongue may be a normal tissue structure, or it may be a pathological condition such as papillitis of the tongue, tongue cancer, etc. Differential diagnosis needs to be done with the help of a doctor. 1. Normal tissue structure: the human tongue has tongue papillae in the form of small meatballs with taste buds on them, which are not accompanied by pain and other uncomfortable symptoms. 2. Tongue papillitis: if the bacterial papilla is inflamed, under the stimulation of inflammatory factors, it can be congested and enlarged, which is manifested as a small red granule and accompanied by pain. 3. Tongue cancer: in early stage, tongue cancer patients may have small hard nodules on the side edge of tongue, which may be manifested as red granules. It is recommended to go to the hospital in time to consult the doctor for the cause of red granules on the tongue, and if treatment is needed, standardized treatment should be carried out under the guidance of doctor.